# NTSB LAX07CA125: Cessna 172M, N9685Q, Stockton, CA, April 12, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 12, 2007, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Stockton, CA - Coordinates: 37.894165, -121.238334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8942&lon=-121.2383&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65571 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65571/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA125 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion resulting from the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations and failure to refuel while en route. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - fence ## Analysis After a loss of engine power, the airplane landed short of the runway, collapsing the nose gear and buckling the engine firewall. The pilot departed with both fuel tanks full. His route of flight usually takes 3 hours to fly. He encountered turbulence and strong winds, which had the effect of increasing the flight time to 4 hours. As he lined up for a straight-in approach to the runway, the engine stopped due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot executed a forced landing short of the approach end of runway and collided with the ground and a fence. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical malfunctions. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident scene and confirmed that there was no fuel onboard. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Accident Report that he departed El Monte, California, with both fuel tanks full of 100LL. His route of flight, El Monte to Stockton, California, usually takes 3 hours to fly. He encountered turbulence and strong winds, which had the effect of increasing the flight time to 4 hours. As he lined up for a straight-in approach to the Stockton Metropolitan Airport, the engine stopped due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot executed a forced landing short of the approach end of runway 29, which collapsed the nose gear and buckled the engine firewall. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical malfunctions. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident scene and confirmed that there was no fuel onboard. The airplane had been modified with the installation of a higher horsepower Lycoming O-360-A1A engine in place of the original O-320. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9685Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9685Q-2010-09-02), registration cancelled 2010-09-02, S/N 17265769, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265769 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aacit - Registered owner: AFS, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KEMT, El Monte, CA - Destination: KSCK, Stockton, CA - Airport: KSCK, Stockton Metro, runway 29R, 10,650 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 235 total, 235 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 18 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KSCK, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070412020599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070412020599A), Apr 12, 2007: Cessna 172M, Stockton, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed el monte, CA (EMT) enroute to Stockton, CA(sck). The 1975 Cessna 172 ran out of gas, and landed 100 feet short of the runway 29LR at… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.